Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Manager

Department: CARO/Rwanda

Reports To: IECD-R Programme Director

Country/Location: Rwanda/Kigali

Background

As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) works with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, not a creed, race or nationality. The primary goal of CRS/Rwanda programming is to ensure that vulnerable households in Rwanda achieve full, integral human development

Job Summary:

The Improving Early Childhood Development in Rwanda (IECD-R) programs responds to the challenge of limited access to integrated Early Childhood Development (ECD) services in Rwanda and focuses on the conception to three-year-olds (0 – 3) age group and follow up services for 4-6-year olds. It seeks to build the knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers, enabling better stimulation, learning, protection, nutrition, and health and as a result better physical, social, cognitive and emotional development for approximately 730,000 children. You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) to design and implementation of the project in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to the project team to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL-related technical knowledge, advice, and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ programming is across the globe.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning in the project throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Supervise the collection of relevant data for ongoing project monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Coordinate geographic targeting for the baseline, midline, and end line studies conducted by the independent evaluator. Work in close collaboration with the independent evaluator for additional logistics and data collection needs.
• Effectively manage MEAL-related staff for the project and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion the development of project learning – identify opportunities for learning, research, and publications in the program area(s) and implementation of MEAL policy.
• Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the knowledge management agenda. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen CRS influence among external stakeholders.
• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL system and process, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements in the project.

• Promoting MEAL policies and industry good practices, champion the analysis and use of project performance data in the program area(s) to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.
• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project evaluation events.
• Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities to national and local government and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment, and strengthening of partnerships relevant to MEAL in the project and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

 Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Development, International Relations, Statistics or MEAL required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in MEAL
• Experience in managing OVC MEAL preferably with an international NGO
• Good experience in project grants management, experience with donors including DfID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical reports.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations, government officials and community leaders
• MEAL quantitative and qualitative experience required.
• Experience in use of ICT4D.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using data analysis software, MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Personal Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Full working proficiency in English and Kinyarwanda required.

Travel Required: A minimum of 30% of field-based travel is required for this position.

 Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: MEAL Officers

Internal: Partner staff

External:  NECDP Seconded Staff

Agency-wide Competencies:

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Accountability and stewardship
• Builds relationships
• Develops talent
• Continuous improvement and innovation
• Strategic mindset

MEAL Competencies:

The staff member in this position is expected to have expert knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in the most complex situations.

• Monitoring

• Accountability
• Learning

The staff member in this position is expected to have advanced knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals:

• MEAL in Design
• Evaluation
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• ICT4MEAL
• MEAL in Management

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

 How to apply

Electronic applications-Only a motivation letter and a current detailed CV should be addressed to the CRS Country Representative exclusively at RW_HR@crs.org not later than Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 5:00 pm. Please, include “MEAL Manager/IECD” and your name in the subject line.  Due to anticipated high interest in this post and the expected number of applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.